Berries are the perfect fruit – not only are they great to eat, versatile in their usage and add fabulous colour to desserts and baked goods, but they are packed with nutrients including good doses of Vitamin C, fibre and antioxidants. They are really easy to grow, occupy only as much space as you are willing to give them, and produce prolific quantities of fabulous fruit. They make jolly jars of jam and cheerful chunks of chutney when you have a bumper crop.

There is a wide range of Berries to choose from, some of which are known as Brambles, due to the fact that they have thorny or spiny canes and branches. Brambles are those tasty, colorful delights of early summer and autumn. The genus Rubus is divided into many species that include raspberries, blackberries, dewberries, loganberries and boysenberries. Berries include strawberries, blueberries and gooseberries.

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Berries are often treated as gourmet fruit because they don';t store well. They are easy to grow and are a desirable addition to any home garden. Summer-bearing brambles ripen right after strawberries, creating a succession of fruit crops.

Select a planting site higher than the surrounding area if possible, as this provides essential air circulation and water drainage, reducing disease and insect problems. Strawberries and blueberries can be successfully grown in containers if space is limited.

Pruning is essential for maximum fruit yields. Some gardeners prune their autumn-fruiting raspberries to the ground in early spring, sacrificing the summer crop for the sake of one big bumper autumn crop. Raspberry bushes send up suckering stems that must be cut out immediately with a sharp spade, although the black and purple varieties are a little tidier.

Brambles are adapted to a wide range of soils but do best when planted in well-drained, deep, fertile soil that is high in humus. A pH of 6.0 to 6.5 is preferred. Compared to raspberries, blackberries are more tolerant of heavy soils. Adding organic matter and planting in raised beds can be of help in avoiding diseases.

Yummy. Large dark rich red mouth watering berry that is just delicious. A cross between boysenberry/loganberries. Thornless and a heavy cropper.Self-fertile. Pick fresh from the vine. Harvest when fruit turns dark red and are easy to remove. December-Janurary.

As a bramble this plant forms a great screen and can be cut back the following winter.
Trademarked under this name.

A highly rated American cultivar with sturdy thorn-less 'canes'. The large luscious berries ripen early in the season around about January. The berries are very juicy with a tart yet sweet flavour. For best results plant in sun or part shade in deep acid soil. Deciduous.

Blackberries fruit on 2nd year wood. It is usual to cut back the cane that has finished fruiting and then train a 1 year old new cane in preparation for fruiting the following season.
Suitable for warmer areas including Auckland/Northland

Thornless Blackberry. Upright habit, no thorns and bumper crops of firm sweet fruit in summer - what more could you want? Someone to make the jam I suppose! Plant in sun or part shade in nice deep acid soil for best results. Deciduous.

See our How To pages for tips on growing Brambles and Berries.
Suitable for warmer areas including Auckland/Northland

A thornless variety that performs best when planted in groups to maximise flowering and fruiting. The spring flowers are followed by large red berries that turn black when ripe towards the end of summer. Prefers full sun and well drained soil that does not completely dry out in summer. Deciduous.

Blackberries fruit on 2nd year wood. It is usual to cut back the cane that has finished fruiting and then train a 1 year old new cane in preparation for fruiting the following season.
Suitable for warmer areas including Auckland/Northland

This 'Rabbit Eye' Blueberry is not only sweet and succulent to eat but it looks good in the garden as well. The berries are medium, full of lots of vitamins, high in vitamin C and good antioxidant properties too. Plant in sun or part shade in nice rich acid soil for best results. Self pollinator. Evergreen.

Rabbiteye Blueberry. Developed in conjunction with Plant and Food Research this variety has delicious large dark blue fruit that are ready to pick from around January. Suitable for the warmer districts of NZ. Plant in the sun, in rich acid soil with 'Blue Magic' or 'Tasty Blue'. Evergreen. PVR.

Blueberries taste best when left to ripen on the bush 7-10 days after turning blue.
Trademarked under this name.
Suitable for warmer areas including Auckland/Northland

Rabbiteye Blueberry. Produced in NZ in conjunction with Plant and Food Research this variety produces copious amounts of delicious blue fruit ready to eat from December. Plant in the sun in nice rich acid soil for best results. Plant with a companion -'Blue Dawn' or 'Tasty Blue'. Evergreen. PVR.

The fruit will taste best when left to ripen on the bush 7-10 days after turning blue.
Trademarked under this name.Suitable for warmer areas including Auckland/Northland

Rabbiteye variety. An excellent crop producing large clusters of medium sized berries from mid February to early April. Fruits on second year wood. Best left on bush until after fruit has turned blue to ensure best flavour.

Ideal for warm climates as they require low chill hours for bud initiation. Pollinate with another Rabbit eye variety.

A 'Rabbit-eye' Blueberry that crops well with clusters of medium sized dark firm fruit with a great flavour. Ripe around February. Recommended for warmer districts. Pollinate with another Rabbiteye
. Plant in a sunny position in acid soil that does not dry out in summer. Evergreen
Suitable for warmer areas including Auckland/Northland

Rabbit-eye Blueberry. An evergreen American variety that is suitable for warmer areas of NZ. The medium sized blue berries have an excellent flavour and start to ripen from January onward. Plant in the sun, in rich acid soil. Best planted with a companion such as another Rabbiteye.
Suitable for warmer areas including Auckland/Northland

This 'Rabbit Eye' Blueberry not only tastes good it looks good in the garden as well. The berries are small, light blue, have an excellent flavour and ripen around March. Plant in sun or part shade in nice rich acid soil for best results. Pollinate with another Rabbiteye. Evergreen.

It is important to remember that Blueberries fruit on the previous years wood and whilst they are self-fertile they will always do better with a companion.
Suitable for warmer areas including Auckland/Northland

Northern Highbush. Medium sized, dark skinned, firm fruit that is flavourful to eat. Prefers well drained, acidic soil that is rich in organic matter. Crops best with cross pollination, Blast and Tifblue are great partners. Deciduous.Suitable for warmer areas including Auckland/Northland

This Southern Highbush Blueberry is a good choice for warmer areas of NZ. 'Marimba' is highly productive with large firm fruit full of flavour that ripen around December. Pollinate with another Southern Highbush. Plant in sun or part shade in rich acid soil for best results. Deciduous.

Though most Blueberries are self-fertile they will set fruit better if cross pollinated with another cultivar of the same variety.
Suitable for warmer areas including Auckland/Northland

Rabbiteye. Maru produces excellent crops of large dark blue fruit. Mature the berries well on the plant prior to picking, This is a good variety for Waikato North. Flowers in spring, fruit harvest toward the end of summer and displays gorgeous burgundy wine colours in autumn. Acid Soil. Deciduous.

Let fruit mature on the bush. To ensure the best flavour leave fruit on the bush for 7-10 days after turning blue.

Northern Highbush - 'Muffin' TM was developed in conjunction with Plant and Food Research and produces heavy crops of delicious berries in summer and autumn. Best grown in areas that get some winter chill. Will perform best if planted with another variety such as 'Blue Joy'. Deciduous. PVR.
Suitable for warmer areas including Auckland/Northland

Southern Highbush Blueberry. A vigorous, upright grower that produces very large fruit with a mild sweet flavour. Plant in the sun in rich acid soil. Will perform better with a companion such as 'Marimba' or 'Petite Blue'. Ripe from November onwards. Deciduous.
Suitable for warmer areas including Auckland/Northland

Rabbiteye. An American variety that is suitable for warmer areas of NZ. The sweet berries are of a good size and high quality and produced in generous quantities between January and March. Plant in the sun, in rich acid soil. Best planted with 'Tifblue' or 'Centurion'.
Suitable for warmer areas including Auckland/Northland

Rabbiteye. An evergreen variety developed in conjunction with Plant and Food Research. The berries are large, rounded, brilliant blue and very juicy. Ready to eat from early February. Plant in the sun in rich acid soil for best results. Happiest with a companion - 'Delite' or 'Powder Blue'. PVR.
Suitable for warmer areas including Auckland/Northland

This 'Rabbiteye' variety is is a tall, vigorous upright grower. Large, light blue
berries full of flavour ripen towards the end of summer. Pollinate with another Rabbiteye
to ensure good crops. Plant in a sunny position in acid soil that does not dry out in summer. Deciduous.
Suitable for warmer areas including Auckland/Northland

Boysenberries with their sweet taste and just a hint of sharpness to awaken your taste buds are a delicious summer treat. Perfect to eat fresh or for making jams and preserves. Easy to grow but it best to provide some horizontal support. Boysenberries are Floricanes, and fruit on 2nd year canes. Deciduous.

A delicious berry that can be picked straight from the plant and popped into your mouth. White flowers in early Spring followed by large firm conical dark purple black berries. Crops December to Janurary. Fruits are ready when easy to pull from vine.

Starlight TM. A large conical berry that is dark wine-red in colour after a showy display of white flowers in Spring. Excellent flavour. Crops December to January on almost thornless canes.Self-fertile. Insect and bee pollinated.

A self fertile Boysenberry Medium to large delicious berries from December. This is an almost thornless berry bush that crops well reliably. Grow in a sunny sheltered position and provide horizontal support. Prune in winter and remember Boysenberries are Floricanes meaning they fruit on 2nd year growth. Deciduous.

Check out our 'How To' section for tips on growing Berries and Brambles.

A vigorous and extremely hardy variety producing high yields of bright red fruit. Red currants are a great source of vitamin C. They are easy to grow and form attractive shrubs. The fruit can be picked fresh or used for culinary purposes. Ripe around December-January. Deciduous.

Red Currants differ from Black Currants in that they fruit on the older developed wood (branches) of the bush.
Suitable for warmer areas including Auckland/Northland

This is an albino form of the Red Currant which has almost translucent fruits with low acidity. Delicious picked and eaten straight off the bush. Happiest in morning sun in any average soil that does not dry out too much in summer. Adding some organic matter will improve performance. Deciduous.

Prune the main shoots of your White Currant back by about 1/2 in winter to encourage new fruiting laterals. Remember that White Currants mainly fruit on older wood.
Suitable for warmer areas including Auckland/Northland

You may know the Mulberry tree better for its role in silk production rather than as an ornamental plant however it is a worthy garden specimen. The glossy large heart shaped leaves always look fresh. Small edible fruits appear in spring and are loved by birds! Likes the sun. Deciduous.

Desirable, weeping form of the highly ornamental Mulberry tree. The glossy large heart shaped leaves always look fresh. Small edible fruits appear in spring and are loved by birds! Give this special tree the space to spread its lovely pendulous branch formation. Deciduous.

This variety of Raspberry has firm quality berries with a lovely flavour. The berries will change colour post harvest. Ripe from Autumn -after autumn fruiting cut back the cane 1/3, and you can have a 2nd fruiting in spring. A strong grower that doesn't have to be supported. Plant in a sunny spot. Deciduous.

Raspberries fruit on 2nd year 'canes' i.e. older wood. They love well rotted organic matter and will fruit best when given a well balanced fertiliser in early spring.
Suitable for warmer areas including Auckland/Northland

This divine raspberry grows as a bramble on upright canes. Covered in rose like leaves, simple small white flowers are followed by luscious sweet delicate golden fruit. Easily removed from vine when ripe. Vigorous. Self fertile. Harvest Dec to April, Main crop Feb to Mar. Deciduous.

Raspberry Ivory TM s of red raspberries and except for fruit colour have all the characteristics of red raspberries.

A high yielding, mid-season Raspberry with medium sized berries. The fruit comes away from the bush readily, making harvesting easy. This variety has a high resistance to fruit rot. Plant in a sunny sheltered position in soil that does not completely dry out in summer. Deciduous.

Most Raspberries fruit on 2nd year 'canes' i.e. older wood. 'Nootka' also fruits on new growth. You will need to provide a support framework for the 'canes' to grow against. Raspberries love well rotted organic matter and will fruit best when given a well balanced fertilizer in early spring.